January 12, 2019

KABUL - Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Islamabad wanted the Taliban to give up their refusal to talk to the Afghan government so that a political settlement of the 17-year-old conflict could be negotiated, according to a media report on Friday.
“We want them to sit together. It is for Afghans to sort out their problems and as long as they do not sit down and talk to each other, outsiders can do little to help them,” Foreign Minis­ter Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a conversation with Dawn on Thursday.
Pakistan last month facilitated a meeting between the United States and the Tali­ban in Abu Dhabi, which was also attended by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The talks were described as “positive” and “productive” by the UAE and the US, but Taliban have remained stuck to their position That they would not talk to the government in Kabul, which they call a “puppet regime”.
The insurgent group instead wants to first reach a settlement with the US on the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan
Criticising Taliban’s refusal to talk to Afghan government, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday said that as long as that did not happen the hopes of ending the conflict would remain a pipe dream.
Another round of talks to build on Abu Dhabi meeting is expected later this month. (Pajhwok)